Investigation of focused cardiac ultrasound in the emergency room for differentiation of respiratory and cardiac causes of respiratory distress in dogs

A survey of the use of ultrasound by small animal veterinary clinicians

This study aimed to determine the current use of ultrasound amongst small animal veterinarians. A total of 1216 small animal veterinary practitioners responded to an electronic survey that was administered through the Veterinary Information Network to all its members. Descriptive statistics were generated; limited inferential statistics were performed to examine specific relationships. Eighty-four percent of respondents had access to an ultrasound unit, and 86% of respondents reported using their unit multiple times per week. The most common uses were assistance with cystocentesis (93%) and abdominocentesis (71%), pregnancy diagnosis (69%), limited abdominal evaluation (63%), to aid in thoracocentesis (59%), and limited thoracic evaluation (52%). Eighty-nine percent of respondents received some formal training in ultrasound, most commonly from continuing education courses. Most respondents (52%) reported receiving ≤25 h of training. Additionally, 88% of respondents believed it was either extremely or very important for there to be ultrasound training for veterinary students prior to graduation. Based on this survey, most small animal practitioners commonly use ultrasound for limited examinations, being most confident in the sonographic evaluation and centesis of the bladder and for the detection and centesis of effusion in a body cavity. With most respondents having ≤25 h of training in ultrasound, typically obtained in postgraduate courses, an expansion in standardized basic ultrasound training within the veterinary curriculum may be warranted.

Utility of focused cardiac ultrasonography training in veterinary students to differentiate stages of subclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs

BACKGROUND

Differentiation of the subclinical phases of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) in dogs relies heavily on echocardiography. Focused cardiac ultrasonography (FCU) is a point-of-care technique that can assess heart size.

HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES

Veterinary students trained in FCU can differentiate dogs with subclinical MMVD based on left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) dimensions.

ANIMALS

Forty-eight dogs with subclinical MMVD.

METHODS

Veterinary students were trained to measure LV dimension and LA-to-aortic root dimension ratio (LA : Ao) using FCU. Dogs were categorized into 2 cohorts based on whether or not the LV normalized internal diastolic dimension was ≥1.7 and LA : Ao was ≥1.6. Agreement between FCU and echocardiographic studies performed by cardiologists was evaluated.

RESULTS

One-hundred and forty-six FCU examinations were performed by 58 veterinary students on 48 dogs. Overall agreement between students and cardiologists was moderate (Fleiss' kappa, 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39-0.69; P < .001). Percentage accuracy in observations with heart dimensions less than the cutoffs (86/89, 97%) was significantly higher than in observations in with larger hearts (31/57, 54%; P < .001). Agreement increased from moderate to good as heart sizes became more extreme. Degree of confidence by students in performing FCU was significantly higher at the end vs start of the study.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Categorization of dogs with subclinical MMVD by veterinary students using FCU was associated with moderate to good agreement with echocardiography. Focused cardiac ultrasonography is a point-of-care method that can help assess clinical stage in dogs with subclinical MMVD.

The Role of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Managing Cardiac Emergencies

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a useful imaging tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of cardiac emergencies. Unlike complete echocardiography, POCUS is a time-sensitive examination involving a subset of targeted thoracic ultrasound views to identify abnormalities of the heart, lungs, pleural space, and caudal vena cava. When integrated with other clinical information, POCUS can be helpful in the diagnosis of left-sided and right-sided congestive heart failure, pericardial effusion and tamponade, and severe pulmonary hypertension and can help clinicians monitor resolution or recurrence of these conditions.

Assessing primary care veterinarians' use of and confidence in performing point-of-care ultrasound

BACKGROUND

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is gaining popularity in the veterinary field, but there is little information on operator confidence.

METHODS

A survey was distributed to primary care veterinarians (PCVs) via social media between May and July 2020. Details of participants' training in and use of POCUS were recorded. Participants' confidence in using thoracic and abdominal POCUS was also assessed using a five-point Likert scale.

RESULTS

Two hundred and one PCVs used POCUS, of which 32% reported using a non-standardised protocol. Fifty percent of PCVs were self-taught and 17.4% had attended a specific practical course. The median confidence score was 4 out of 5 (interquartile range [IQR] 2-5) for identifying abdominal abnormalities, irrespective of the training method. The median confidence score for thoracic abnormalities was 3 out of 5 (IQR 1-4) for those taught by a colleague or who were self-taught using journal articles or videos.

LIMITATIONS

The survey-based nature of the study relies on self-reporting and is therefore liable to recall bias.

CONCLUSIONS

PCVs' confidence in using POCUS is lacking, particularly with thoracic POCUS. Standardised practical training for PCVs, particularly in thoracic POCUS, would be beneficial. Future studies should explore how best to deliver this training.

Echocardiographic caudal vena cava measurements in healthy cats and in cats with congestive heart failure and non-cardiac causes of cavitary effusions

BACKGROUND

Echocardiographic indices of the inferior vena cava have been associated with elevated right atrial pressures in humans.

HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES

Describe caudal vena caval (CVC) sonographic dimensions in healthy cats compared to cats with cardiogenic cavitary effusion (CCE), cardiogenic pulmonary edema (CPE), or non-cardiac causes of cavitary effusion (NCE).

ANIMALS

30 healthy control cats and 52 client-owned cats with CCE, CPE, or NCE examined at two university hospitals.

METHODS

Sagittal 2-dimensional (2D) and M-mode CVC dimensions were acquired from the subxiphoid view. Caudal vena cava collapsibility index (CVC-CI) was calculated. Variables were compared between study groups using Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's Bonferroni testing. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess sensitivity and specificity for diagnostic categories.

RESULTS

Healthy cats had sagittal 2D and M-mode (median, interquartile range) CVC maximal dimensions of 2.4 mm (1.3-4.0) and 3.4 mm (1.5-4.9) and CVC-CI of 52% (45.2-61.8) and 55% (47.8-61.3), respectively. The CVC maximal dimensions in healthy controls were smaller than in cats with cavitary effusions or pulmonary edema (all P<0.05). CVC-CI was different between CCE and NCE (P<0.0001) with cutoffs of CVC-CI ≤38% (2D) or ≤29% (M-mode) being 90.5% and 85.7% sensitive, and 94.4% and 100% specific for diagnosis of CCE, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Caudal vena cava measurements are larger in cats with cavitary effusions and cats with CPE than healthy cats. In cats with cavitary effusion, decreased CVC-CI, ≤38% (2D) or ≤29% (M-mode), was helpful in distinguishing between cardiogenic and noncardiogenic etiology.

Validation of a focused echocardiographic training program in first opinion practice

BACKGROUND

The EPIC study defines criteria, including echocardiographic assessments of left atrial to aortic ratio (LA: Ao) and left ventricular internal diameter in diastole normalized for body weight (LVIDdN), for dogs with preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) likely to benefit from pimobendan therapy. Access to echocardiography by a cardiologist is not universally available.

HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES

Completion of a focused echocardiographic training program would result in accurate identification of dogs fulfilling the EPIC criteria by primary care veterinarians (PC).

PARTICIPANTS

Six PCs with no previous echocardiographic experience.

METHODS

Prospective diagnostic test accuracy study. After training, each PC evaluated ≤10 dogs that they believed to have preclinical MMVD. The evaluation was repeated by 1 of 3 cardiology diplomates, blinded to the PC's findings. Agreement between clinical assessments and echocardiographic measurements was assessed.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven dogs were evaluated by PCs; 1 dog was withdrawn because of congestive heart failure. The median time between PC and cardiologist evaluation was 0 days (range, 0-8). One incorrect diagnosis of MMVD was made by a PC (this dog had dilated cardiomyopathy [DCM]); preclinical MMVD was confirmed by the cardiologist in 55 dogs. No difference in LA: Ao (P = .96; CV = 6.9%) was detected between PCs and cardiologists. LVIDdN (1.69 cm/kg^0.294 (1.26-2.21) vs 1.73 cm/kg^0.294 (1.32-2.73); P = .001; CV = 6.5%), was significantly lower when measured by PCs vs cardiologists. PCs and cardiologists agreed regarding assessment of EPIC criteria in 49/56 dogs (Alpha = .761, 95% confidence interval 0.697-0.922).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

The program effectively trained PCs to accurately assess EPIC criteria in dogs with preclinical MMVD.

Focused Cardiac Ultrasonography in Cats

Heart disease is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in cats. Focused cardiac ultrasonography (FCU) is a useful diagnostic tool for identifying heart disease in symptomatic and asymptomatic cats when performed by trained veterinarians. When used in conjunction with other diagnostics such as physical examination, blood biomarkers, electrocardiography, Global FAST, and other point-of-care ultrasonographic examinations, FCU may improve clinical decision making and help clinicians prioritize which cats would benefit from referral for complete echocardiography and cardiac consultation. This article reviews the definition, advantages, clinical indications, limitations, training recommendations, and a protocol for FCU in cats.